According to a company survey, IT-related changes have become a secondary priority.

Market intelligence firm Gartner recently released the findings of its CEO survey, which interviewed 388 CEOs from organisations from across the world. Conducted in the fourth quarter of 2016, the survey explored the current challenges surrounding IT technology.

Findings from the survey showed a shift in CEO focus towards digital business with 47% of CEOs reporting being challenged by their respective boards of directors to push for digital business, while 56% reported that digital improvements had already yielded positive results.

Mark Raskino, vice president and Gartner Fellow, said: "IT-related priorities, cited by 31% of CEOs, have never been this high in the history of the CEO survey ... almost twice as many CEOs are intent on building up in-house technology and digital capabilities as those plan on outsourcing it (57% and 29%, respectively).

He added: "We refer to this trend as the reinternalisation of IT - bringing information technology capability back toward the core of the enterprise because of its renewed importance to competitive advantage. This is the building up of new-era technology skills and capabilities."

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Additionally, the chief business priority has shifted towards growth with 58% of CEOs highlighting it as a top priority, an increase from the 42% reported in 2016. IT-related changes have since also become a secondary priority with 31% of CEOs highlighting it as a priority.

Roughly 20% of CEOs are also taking a ‘digital first' approach to business change.

"This might mean, for example, creating the first version of a new business process or in the form of a mobile app," explained Raskino.

"Twenty-two percent are taking digital to the core of their enterprise models. That's where the product, service and business model are being changed and the new digital capabilities that support those are becoming core competencies."